Yankees rehire Rick Down as minor league roving hitting instructor

Noah K. Murray/The Star-LedgerThe Yankees have hired Rick Down to act as a hitting instructor with the club.

TAMPA, Fla. — Rick Down has rejoined the Yankees' organization as a minor league roving hitting instructor.

Down has been a coach at the major league level for several teams, including stints with the Yankees from 1993-95 and 2002-03.

Down was a minor league hitting coordinator last season with the Seattle Mariners.

Also, Tom Nieto is the new manager of the Yankees' rookie-level Gulf Coast League team.

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South Korea's Doosan Bears say they have signed former Yankees pitcher Scott Proctor.

The Doosan Bears said today that Proctor signed a one-year, $300,000 contract to play for the team in 2012. The club says Proctor will join the team's offseason training due to start in Arizona next week.

The 35-year-old Proctor went 18-16 with a 4.78 ERA during his seven years in the majors.

The Doosan Bears ranked fifth in the eight-team Korean baseball league last year.